Alleged Wagon Thieves Arrested

Find Booty at Jamaica Plain.
Shoemaker is Charged with Receiving Stolen Goods.
Driver Escapes from 11 Headquarters Men.

A revolver shot, fired in the air by Inspector Lynch in front of 3110 Washington St., Jamaica Plain, yesterday afternoon, drew ten other inspectors of Police Headquarters from hiding places and gave the signal for the arrest of three men.

The men arrested are charged by the police with being responsible for the disappearance of two wagons filled with leather, satin and shoes. The moveable part of the alleged booty was brought to Police Headquarters last evening where it now occupies the entire floor space of a good-sized room.

Patrick J. Culhane, aged 22, no home, who was released from State Prison only a few months ago, after serving a sentence for larceny of a similar nature, was one of the men. He and Charles Sidney are charged by the police with larceny. Sidney is 20 years old. He also disclaims a place of resi-dence.

Samuel Stone, aged 41, a Jamaica Plain shoemaker, who lives at 8 School St. and has a place of business at 3140 Washington St., Jamaica Plain, was the third man arrested. He is charged with receiving stolen goods.

In the mix up attendant upon the rush of the arresting officers following the revolver signal, a fourth man, driver of a wagon upon which the two alleged thieves rode to the scene of their cap-ture, escaped.

According to the police, Culhane and Sidney would stroll along the streets until they came across a well-laden wagon, the driver of which was not nearby. They would jump upon the wagon and drive off. The police charge that Stone, the shoemaker, received the goods thus stolen.

For several days and nights a headquarters inspector has been in hiding near the shoemaker’s shop, watching and listening. Yesterday morning a tip reached Police Headquarters, and the eleven in-spectors were sent out to Jamaica Plain.

It was arranged that Inspector Lynch should remain on the street and fire the revolver as a signal, while the other offices, to avoid suspicion, should hide themselves nearby. Inspectors Smith, Sheehan, Laughlan, Dennissey, Burke, Morrissey, Egan, Dorsey, Concannon and Kilday, whom Chief Inspector McGarr had assigned to the case, accordingly got out of sight.

Very soon a wagon drove down Washington St. and stopped before 3140. Culhane and Sidney, according to the police, were on the wagon. As the wagon came to a stop they were having a bit of horse play between themselves. Incidentally the police say they changed caps.

It is said that when the wagon stopped, Stone came from his shop and placed a bundle of leather on the wagon. Then Inspector Lynch fired his revolver and the ten inspectors appeared.

Inspectors Sheehan and Dorsey grabbed Stone before he could move. Culhane and Sidney started to run away, but Inspectors Smith and Morrisey gave chase. Inspector Smith caught Sidney and Inspector Morrisey got Culhane.

They were brought to Headquarters, when it is said Culhane was identified by Inspector Michael H. Cronin as the man he arrested about six years ago by overturning the wagon upon which he and another man was riding. At that time it was alleged that Culhane attempted to kill Inspector Cronin by firing a revolver at him. Culhane was tried for this. He was sent to state prison.

The inspectors also brought to Headquarters a couple of wagon loads of stuff said to have been stolen by Culhane and Sidney. Great cases of shoes formed the best part of the alleged loot, but there were numerous other things as well, including mops, paper and satin.

Culhane and Sidney are officially charged by the police with the larceny on September 9, from Whipple & Co., of 311 South St., of a horse and wagon, six bundles of leather, 1 bundle of satin, 314 pairs of shoes, five gross of shoe laces and one roll of paper, all valued at $1700. They are al-so charged with the larceny from A. Towle and Co. of 41 Matthews St., of a horse and wagon and seven bundles of leather valued at $1000.

This article appeared originally in the Sep 15, 1912 edition of the Boston Daily Globe. Production assistance provided by Kate Markopoulos.